Hundreds of women are set to benefit from free surgery to correct obstetric fistula in a medical camp organised at the Kisii Teaching and Referral hospital.
The medical dubbed ‘No more Tears’ is camp organised by the county government in collaboration with the Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa and Freedom from Fistula Foundation (F3).
By Wednesday, 19 of the 33 women booked for the surgery had undergone the procedure.
The specialists led by Dr Weston Khisa Wakasiaka, a gynecologist and obstetrician, said fistula is a treatable and curable condition yet most women continued to suffer in silence.
He called for sensitisation to create awareness among women to seek the corrective procedures.
Other specialists at the camp include Dr John Omboga, and Dr Enock Ondari -- KTRH acting CEO.
"Women with fistula undergo a lot of stigma and psychological trauma in society. The condition is common among women who prefer home deliveries as opposed to hospital deliveries. However, it is a treatable condition,” said Dr Wakasiaka.
Dr Ondari said the condition can be prevented if women in labour are given timely obstetric care but the only cure was surgical procedure.
The two-week exercise at Kisii Teaching and Referral hospital started on September 12 and will end on September 26. Over 120 women have so far been screened.
One of the beneficiaries, 78-year-old Priscah Ariri from Kitale, said she had lived with the condition for the past 50 years.
The smiling Mrs Ariga thanked the county government for granting her an opportunity to have her nagging problem solved. “I have really suffered for 50 years. It has been agony being ridiculed and shunned in the community. I thank the organisers for this,” she said.